Electronic musical instrument capable of transposing

ABSTRACT

A transposing electronic musical instrument wherein a high frequency oscillator is provided on its output side with an octave frequency divider comprising twelve counter circuits to generate twelve tone signals based on a twelve tempered scale. These tone signals are respectively frequency-divided by counter circuits to obtain octave tone signals. A frequency divider for transposition comprising counter circuits is interposed between the high frequency oscillator and the octave frequency divider such that the output terminals of these counter circuits can be selectively connected to the octave frequency divider.

United States Patent [191 Obayashi et a1.

[ ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CAPABLE OF TRANSPOSING Inventors: Nobuharu Obayashi, Hamana-gun;

' Tetsuzi Sakashita, Hamamatsu, both of Japan Kabushiki Kaisha Kawai Gakki Seisakusho, Shizuoka-ken, Japan Filed: Apt-.19, 1973 Appl. No.: 352,628

Assignee:

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 20, 1972 Japan 47-39102 US. Cl. 84/1.01, 84/445 Int. Cl. Gll1 1/02 Field of Search 84/1.0l, 1.17, 445, 446,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,023,659 3/1962 Bode 84/445 51 July 16, 1974 3,030,848 4/1962 Wick ..84/445 3,509,454 4/1970 Gossel... 84/l.0l X 3,610,800 /1971 Deutschm. ..84/l.01 3,674,907 7/1972 Derry 84/1 .01

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Stanley J. Witkowski Attorney, Agent, or FirmEric H. Waters [5 7] ABSTRACT A transposing electronic musical instrument wherein a high frequency oscillator is provided on its output side with an octave frequency divider comprising twelve counter circuits to'generate twelve tone signals based 7 on a twelve tempered scale. These tone signals are respectively frequency-divided by counter circuits to obtain octave tone signals. A frequency divider for transposition comprising counter circuits is interposed between the high frequency oscillator and the octave frequency divider such that the output terminals of these counter circuits can be selectively connected to the octave frequency divider.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures M -1 2040 /Z! l- 2 /20' 2C1 40- 3 ,20-

2Q'll (20'110. 196/185 MJZOJZG ELECTRONIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT CAPABLE OF TRANSPOSING FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a transposing type electronic musical instrument.

BACKGROUND In an ordinary keyed instrument, natural keys are disposed for natural tones and chromatic keys are disposed for their derivative tones. Accordingly, when flat families or sharp families are played in this kind of instrument, transposed tones require the use of chromatic keys. In the case of C major, for example, C, D, E, F, F, A, B, C, are played by using natural keys. D major however beings with the D tone and natural keys and chromatic keys must be used. Thus, the operation of chromatic keys is required due to the transposition and this requirement applies to the case of an electronic musical instrument. Thus, playing with transposition is very difficult for a beginner.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION This invention relates to an electronic musical instrument wherein flat families and sharp families can be played with the use of the natural keys only, in almost the same manner as in the case of C major by shifting the tone source frequencies corresponding and relating to respective keys.

An object of the invention is to provide an electronic musical instrument such that any desired music can be freely played through selection of a switch by a beginner who can play in C major.

A musical instrument of the invention is characterized by being of the type wherein a main high frequency oscillator is provided on its output side with an octave frequency divider comprising twelve counter circuits to generate twelve tone signals based on a twelve tempered scale. These tone signals are respec- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING Examples of this invention will next be explained with reference to the, accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between keys and tones;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respective blocks diagrams showing a frequency dividing system of an octave frequency divider;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are respective block diagrams showing an example of this invention; and

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As is shown in FIG. 1 in the case of C major, for example, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, are played by using natural keys K1, K3, K5, K6, K8, K10 and K12. In the case of D major, however, this begins with the D' tone and accordingly natural keys K3, K5, chromatic key K7, natural keys K8, K10, K12 and K13, chromatic key K14 and natural key K15 must be used. Thus, the operation of chromatic keys are required, due to the transposition and this requirement applies to the case of all electronic musical instruments. Therefore, playing with transposition is very difficult for the beginner.

As for a system involving an octave frequency divider, there are two systems. FIG. 2 shows one system with octave frequency divider (as, for example, employed in D. Gossel U.S. Pat. 3,509,454), and the same comprises that twelve counter circuits (20-1) (20-12) are connected in series with one another. The frequency dividing ratio of each is 196/ 185. If it is desired that a frequency of 8372.02 I-Iz be oscillated from the first counter circuit (20-11), the oscillation frequency f, of a high frequency oscillator 10 connected to the input terminal of the octave frequency divider 20 must be 196/185 times said frequency, that is, 8869.84 Hz. Thus, the oscillation frequencies obtained at output terminals (20-1a) (20-12a) of the counter circuits (20-1) (20-12) become those shown in FIG.

' 2. The musical tone signals thereof are indicated in parentheses. Though not illustrated, these oscillation frequencies are each further frequency-divided by respective pluralities of counter circuits, for example, into seven stages when it is intended, for example, to cover seven octaves of the whole scale of a piano.

FIG. 3 shows the other system employing an octave frequency divider 20'. This system comprises twelve counter circuits.(20'-l) (20-12) connected in parallel with one another to a single common high frequency oscillator 10. The frequency dividing ratios thereof are l/239, l/253 l/45l as shown in this figure. Accordingly, if it is desired that 8360.21 l-Iz be generated from the first counter circuit (20'-1), the oscillation frequency f,,,' of the high frequency oscillator 10 is 239 times'said frequency, that is, 2.00024 MHz. Thus, the oscillation frequencies obtained at output terminals (20-1a) (20-12a) of the counter circuits (20-l) (20-12) become almost equal to those in the case shown in FIG. 2.

This invention is characterized in that a frequency divider for transposition 30 or 30 is provided as shown in FIGS. 4 m5 preceding the octave frequency divider 20 or 20', and output terminals of a plurality of counter circuits constituting the transposition frequency divider 30 or 30' are selectively connected to the octave frequency divider 20 or 20' positioned at the succeeding stage thereof.

The transposition frequency divider 30 shown in FIG. 4 has the same frequency dividing ratio as that of the octave frequency divider 20 shown in FIG. 2. Output terminals (30-1a) (30-l2a) of counter circuits (30-1) (30-12) constituting the transposition frequency divider 30 are connected to respective stationary contacts (40-1) (40-12) of a changeover switch 40, and a movable contact 40a thereof is connected to the octave frequency divider 20. Thus, if the octave frequency divider 20 requires, for example, 8869.84 Hz as shown in FIG. 2 as its highest input frequency, the oscillation frequency of the high frequency oscillator 10 becomes 1 divided by the frequency dividing ratio thereof, that is, 9397.28 I-Iz obtained by multiconstituting the transposition frequency divider 30 become those shown in Tablel below. The musical tone signals of these frequencies are as shown in the right hand column thereof.

If the movable contact 40a of the change-over switch 50 is connected to the stationary contact (40-1) as shown in FIG. 4, the octave frequency divider 20 is supplied with 8869.84 Hz and the frequencies as described in column (1) of Table 2 below can be obtained at the output terminals (20-1d) (20-12a). This is the same as the case of the octave frequency divider 20 shown in FIG. 2. Under this condition, C major can be played by using natural keys as in conventional electronic musical instruments. If, then, the movable contact (40a) is connected to the stationary contact (40-2), the octave frequency divider 20 is supplied with the frequency of 8372.02, that is, the frequency of a B signal, and the oscillation frequencies transposed by one interval as shown in column (II) of Table 2 can be obtained at the output terminals (20-1a) (20- 12a). Namely, the tones generated when natural keys are operated are those of the condition that the same have been transposed by one interval. Thus, the playing of B major becomes possible by playing in almost the same manner as in C major using natural keys only, without using any chromatic keys.

If, then, the movable contact (40a) is connected to the stationary contact (40-3), it is transposed further by one interval as shown in column (III) of same Table. Accordingly, the playing of A major becomes possible only by using natural keys only. Thus, the playing of various tones can be simply effected only with natural keys, without using chromatic keys, by properly selecting the stationary contacts (40-1) (40-12) by a turning of the movable'contact (40a).

TABLE 2 (l) C ma'or (II) B major (III) A major Counter Output one Output Tone Output Tone circui frequency signal frequency signal frequency signal number Hz Hz HZ of octave frequency divider 20-l 8372.02 C 7902.13 3 7458.62 A 20-2 7902.13 3 7458.62 A 7040.00 A 20-3 7458.62 A 7040.00 9 6644.88 G# 20-4 7040.00 1} 6644.88 G 6271.93 (3 20-5 664488 G 6271.93 & I 5919.91 F 20-6 627l.93 g 59l9,9l F 5587.65 F 20-7 5919.9! F 5587.65 F $274.04 & 20-8 5587.65 F 5274.04 I} 4978.03 D 209 E 4978.03 D 4698.64 D

TABLE 2-Continued (I) C major (II) B major (III) A major Counter Output Tone Output Tone Output Tone Circuit frequency signal frequency signal frequency Signal number Hz Hz HZ of octave frequency divider '20-]0 4978.03 D# 4698.64 D 4434.94 Cf 20-l I 4698.64 D 4434.94 C# 4 I 86.04 C 20-12 4434.94 C# 4186.04 C 3951.10 B

Input 8869.84 8372.02 7902.12 v frequency Hz Change- 40-1 40-2 40-3 over switch contact number FIG. 5 shows a case where, between the octave frequency divider 20 and the high frequency oscillator 10' as shown inFIG. 3, a transposing frequency divider 30 of the same frequency dividing system as the octave frequency divider 20 is interposed. If it is assumed that the highest frequency which the octave frequency divider 20' requires is 2.00024 MI-Iz, what is required is only that a frequency of 478 MHz, which is obtained by a technique in which the foregoing frequency is multiplied by 1 divided by the frequency dividing ratio of the first stage of thetransposition frequent divider 30 be generated by the high-frequency oscillator 10. By properly selecting the stationary contact (40-1) (40'-12) by a movable contact (40a) of a change-over switch 40, transposition selection can be made in the same manner as in the case of FIG. 4 and the playing of any desired key can be performed freely with natural keys only.

The above has been explained relative to the case where there is provided at the preceding stage of the octave frequency divider 20,20 a transposing frequency divider 30, 30 having the same frequency dividing ratio, but the same result can be obtained where the frequency divider of the other frequency dividing system is provided. When, in FIG. 4 for example, the transposing frequency divider 30 is replaced by 30 if it is assumed that the highest input frequency required by the octave frequency divider 20 is 8869.84 Hz, what is different is only that the high frequency oscillator of 1 MHz is required. 7

FIG. 6 shows a case where an octave change-over device 50 is interposed between the high frequency oscillator l0 and the transposing frequency divider 30, and theoctave change-over device 50 comprises a plurality nected to the transposition frequency divider 30, for example, through a rotary switch 60.

The frequency dividing ratio is one-half and if it isassumed that9397.27 Hz is generated from the center of countercircuits. It is so arranged that output terminals (50-1) (50-5) thereof are selectively conplayer and playing is thus facilitated. This is applicable in almost the same manner to the example of FIG. 5.

Thus, according to this invention, by properly selecting the connection between the output terminals of the counter circuits constituting the transposing frequency divider and the octave frequency divider, tones corresponding to respective keys can be transposed, so that a playing of any tone can be effected with the use of natural keys only and the playing of any tone can be readily accomplished even by a beginner if he can play in C major.

In the above, for example, in FIG. 2, the output signal of each terminal is frequency-divided by 2 or multiples thereof to provide, for example, seven octaves of a note in harmonic relationship. Thus, the frequency dividers and 20' are octave frequency dividers, while the frequency dividers and 30 are for transposition.

What is claimed is:

1. An electronicmusical instrument capable of transposition comprising a high frequency oscillator having 6. an output side, an octave-frequency divider including twelve counter circuits generating twelve tone signals based on a twelve tempered scale, a transposition frequency divider including counter circuits, and means coupling said octave frequency divider to the output I side of said oscillator via said transposition frequency divider such that the latter said counter circuits can be selectively connected to the octave frequency divider.

frequency divider. 

1. An electronic musical instrument capable of transposition comprising a high frequency oscillator having an output side, an octave frequency divider including twelve counter circuits generating twelve tone signals based on a twelve tempered scale, a transposition frequency divider including counter circuits, and means coupling said octave frequency divider to the output side of said oscillator via said transposition frequency divider such that the latter said counter circuits can be selectively connected to the octave frequency divider.
 2. An instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said means includes a multiple position selector switch coupling the latter said counter circuits to said octave frequency divider.
 3. An instrument as claimed in claim 2 comprising octave change-over means connected between said oscillator and transposition frequency divider and including a plurality of counter circuits and a selector switch connecting said counter circuits to said transposition frequency divider. 